The Slow Revealing of Change: Decision Making Processes in Grassroots Collectives as Stories and Fractals of Adult Learning and Personal, Social and Ecological Change by Erika Isabella Zárate A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Capacity Development and Extension Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Erika Zárate, September, 2014 ABSTRACT THE SLOW REVEALING OF CHANGE: DECISION MAKING PROCESSES OF GRASSROOTS COLLECTIVES AS STORIES AND FRACTALS OF ADULT LEARNING AND PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHANGE Erika Zárate Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Professor Al Lauzon The decision making processes of social and ecological change grassroots collectives (SECGCs) do not only promote change at a community level, but are exemplary enactments of such change. These processes are principled, critically reflective, relational and self-organized, and more so when there is a high degree of connectivity within and between individual SECGCs. SECGCs embody narrative and fractal behaviour that, upon assessment, could contribute significantly to their organizational learning, and subsequent social and ecological change work. In order to assess the self-balancing fractal nature of SECGCs, this research study proposes the use of a Fractal Organization Model and its accompanying table of characteristics of self-balancing fractal SECGCs. The model contains four elements, or nodes, that represent the existing or potential strengths of a SECGC membership, its value and belief system, its decision making processes, and its collective actions for social and ecological change. However, in addition to understanding the nodes of a fractal SECGC, it is also imperative to explore and assess the relationships between these nodes. By evaluating the context, nodes and internodal relationships, the potentiality of four capacities can be determined. The four capacities of a fractal SECGC are resiliency, adaptability, innovation and self-organization, and contribute to a SECGC being an effective agent of social and ecological change. Acknowledgements Primer de tot, mil milions de gràcies als col·lectius de canvi social i ecològic que realitzant un labor essencial per les seves comunitats i que son una inspiració profunda per a mi, tant al nivell personal com al nivell professional. Mil gràcies and a thousand thank you's to Òscar, my best friend, partner and father of our treasured two-year-old daughter Asiri. Merci per l'amor infal·lible, els debats intel·lectuals i el teu suport integral en tot. I a la mussoleta per la seva presència alegra, sàvia i bella des de tant petita, ensenyant-me com s'ha de relacionar amb els altres. Gracias a mi papá por su sabiduría indígena y a mi mama por su perspectiva empática en todo, siempre aprendo de Ústedes, siempre. Last, but not least, thank you to Al Lauzon, Helen Hambly, Lesley Wood, and Marianne Staempfli for your astounding flexibility and rich feedback. You all made this thesis and this Masters possible. iii Table of Contents ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................iii List of Figures...............................................................................................................................vii List of Tables................................................................................................................................vii List of Stories..............................................................................................................................viii Abbreviations.................................................................................................................................ix Glossary of Catalan Terms.............................................................................................................xi 1 Prologue........................................................................................................................................1 2 Introduction...................................................................................................................................3 2.1 Context..................................................................................................................................4 2.1.1 Hope amidst the ashes of crisis and paralysis...............................................................4 2.1.2 Movement in the land of volcanoes..............................................................................5 2.2 Decision Making Processes of SECGCs...............................................................................7 2.2.1 The theories that inform SECGC decision making.......................................................8 2.2.2 The facilitation models used by SECGCs in Garrotxa..................................................9 2.3 The Research Process..........................................................................................................10 2.3.1 Research Goal and Objectives.....................................................................................10 2.3.2 Conceptual Framework...............................................................................................11 2.3.3 Methodology...............................................................................................................11 2.3.4 Ethical Considerations.................................................................................................12 2.4 Significance of this Study...................................................................................................13 2.5 Limitations and Assumptions..............................................................................................14 3 Literature Review.......................................................................................................................18 3.1 Definition of Terms.............................................................................................................18 3.1.1 Grassroots Collectives.................................................................................................19 3.1.2 Social & Ecological Change as Systems Change........................................................21 3.1.3 Consensus....................................................................................................................27 3.2 Theoretical Foundations of Consensus-Based decision making.........................................35 3.2.1 Facilitation Theory......................................................................................................36 3.2.2 Adult Learning Theories..............................................................................................42 3.2.3 Communication Power Theory and other Power Theories.........................................47 3.2.4 Fractal Organization Theory.......................................................................................50 3.3 Facilitation Models.............................................................................................................58 3.3.1 Libertarian Assembly..................................................................................................58 3.3.2 Nonviolent Communication Models...........................................................................63 3.3.3 Process Work Model...................................................................................................71 3.4 Concluding Remarks...........................................................................................................74 4 Research Methods.......................................................................................................................75 4.1 Conceptual Framework.......................................................................................................75 4.2 Goal & Objectives...............................................................................................................76 4.3 Research Questions.............................................................................................................77 4.4 Methodology.......................................................................................................................78 iv 4.4.1 Semi-structured Interviews.........................................................................................79 4.4.2 Key Informant Interviews...........................................................................................81 4.4.3 Participant Observation...............................................................................................81 4.4.4 Group Debrief.............................................................................................................82 4.4.5 Document Analysis.....................................................................................................82 4.5 Ethical Considerations........................................................................................................83 4.5.1 Consent........................................................................................................................83 4.5.2 Privacy and Confidentiality.........................................................................................84 4.5.3 Conflict of Interest......................................................................................................85